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The Senators' defenceman, who has been troubled by hip issues in the past, hasn't skated in over a week with an undisclosed injury and it's doubtful he'll play in the final three games.

Cowen missed his fifth straight game Tuesday night against the New York Islanders at the Nassau County Veterans' Memorial Coliseum.

"I talked to (athletic therapist) Gerry (Townend) and he didn't skate yet so it's not looking like he would because he hasn't skated for a significant amount of time but I don't think we're prepared to call him out at this point," said coach Paul MacLean.

"Right now, until we get home, it doesn't look like he's going to be ready for the game on Thursday night. If he's out for that one he's probably not going to make the weekend either. At this point it's not for sure."

THIS N' THAT

It's like old home week when Sportsnet colour analyst Denis Potvin returns to Uniondale. The former Isles' great spent time catching up with former teammates Butch Goring and Mike Bossy during the skate. Goring is doing colour for the Isles while Bossy works with corporate clients. Potvin's retired No. 5 hangs in the rafters with Clarke Gillies (9), Bossy (22), Bobby Nystrom (23) and Billy Smith (31). Asked if the banners would be transferred to Brooklyn, Potvin said he was "told they would be. I haven't really thought about it." Once the Isles move to Brooklyn in 2014-15, the No. 5 will hang in a building where Potvin has no history. He doesn't seem to mind the possibility of the switch. "It's happened before. When teams have gone to new buildings they've taken the banners with them. As long as it's with the franchise," said Potvin ... The Isles have had so many injuries this season they suited up their 13th rookie from the minors when LW Brent Gallant was called up. New York has lost 219 man-games to injury. "I really haven't seen anything quite like this. We've had a bunch of injuries and a lot of experience for some of the young guys in the NHL," said Isles' D Matt Carkner.

OFF THE GLASS

This will only be the third time in D Chris Phillips career with the Senators he has missed the playoffs. He's not used to trying to ramp up his game at this time of year. Instead, he knows a lot of time will be spent putting the organization under the microscope to try to make the right changes. "We put a lot of work, a lot of time into winning," said Phillips. "That's what this league is all about and results. When you come up short, it's hard, it's disappointing and it raises lots of questions. The hard part is trying to come up with answers and to answer the question, 'Why?' It's not an easy one. It makes it difficult." ... D Patrick Wiercioch became the 89th player in franchise history to suit up for 100 games. A second-round pick in 2008, Wiercioch, 23, had a career high 4-18-22 points going into the game vs. the Isles. He has dressed for the last eight games after being a healthy scratch for eight straight ... G Craig Anderson took quite the swipe at Anders Lee in front of his net on a Isles' power play in the first. He got Lee in the back of the legs with his stick. It must have gone unnoticed by the officials.

THE LAST WORDS

The Senators opted to dress tough-guy Matt Kassian in place of Mike Hoffman because of Gallant's presence. He is a minor-league tough guy and weighs 50 pounds less than Kassian. They were about to go in the first when the officials stepped in. They didn't even let a punch get thrown. Then, they fought as soon as they stepped out of the box so the whole exercise was useless. Gallant caught Kassian with a right and ... Rangers' D Marc Staal spoke Tuesday for the first time since being hit by RW Chris Neil Saturday and is still upset. "It was a late hit, I thought," Staal told New York reporters. "That situation, where if somebody dumps the puck in on me and takes two strides and I level him, I'm in the penalty box 100 per cent. So I dump it in, took a few strides and I didn't think he was going to hit me and he did and then he started, I haven't watched it yet but I saw him in the corner scrumming a little bit. I went in there a little harder than I did. That's the way it goes sometimes with the way he plays." ... Colin Greening wasn't ready to play. "He's close," said MacLean. So is the end of the season.

Season likely over for Senators' Cowen

The Senators' defenceman, who has been troubled by hip issues in the past, hasn't skated in over a week with an undisclosed injury and it's doubtful he'll play in the final three games.

Cowen missed his fifth straight game Tuesday night against the New York Islanders at the Nassau County Veterans' Memorial Coliseum.

"I talked to (athletic therapist) Gerry (Townend) and he didn't skate yet so it's not looking like he would because he hasn't skated for a significant amount of time but I don't think we're prepared to call him out at this point," said coach Paul MacLean.

"Right now, until we get home, it doesn't look like he's going to be ready for the game on Thursday night. If he's out for that one he's probably not going to make the weekend either. At this point it's not for sure."